AUDITIONSThe Walpole Footlighters are excited to announce open auditions for this absurd farce, The Imaginary Invalid.
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This production of Molière’s The Imaginary Invalid will embrace lively physical comedy, larger-than-life characters, and a playful theatrical style. Actors should be ready to move, make bold choices, and work together as a strong comic ensemble. Previous experience with classical theatre or commedia dell’arte is not required.
All roles are open. Seeking strong performers of all ethnicities and backgrounds.
We are open to flexible gender casting for a number of roles. Gender listed below refers to the character being portrayed, not necessarily the gender of the actor.
Music and Movement: This is a play with a little music, not a musical. Angelica and Cleante sing briefly as part of a comic scene, and the full cast participates in the final comic ceremonial sequence, which includes ensemble singing and simple choreographed movement. Actors do not need to be trained singers or dancers. There will be no singing at the initial auditions. Any singing will be explored at callbacks, and auditioners do not need to prepare a song.
PERFORMANCES:
January 29, 30, February 6, 12 & 13 at 7:30pm and February 7 & 14 at 2:00pm.
AUDITION INFO:
Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Sides are posted HERE.
Auditionees will sign up for a group audition session (via the link below) on either the first or second evening. Each session will include a variety of readings and opportunities to work with different scene partners. We will make every effort to use everyone's time efficiently, and some actors may be released before the end of the session once we have seen what we need.
To sign up, you must 1) complete the audition form; 2) upload resume and headshot; and 3) schedule your audition night's slot, all done HERE.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the 7:00pm start time to check in.
All conflicts must be indicated on the audition form as they will be taken into consideration during the casting process.
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will be Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.
PLOT SUMMARY:
The famous hypochondriac in this classic farce not only complains of a million imaginary ills, but also of his astronomical medical bills. If he marries his daughter to a doctor, he reasons, he will have free medical care. He chooses a double-talking Latin numbskull without consulting the daughter who is already smitten by another. The inventive maid exposes the doctor and his father as charlatans and demonstrates to the master that his second wife loves his money, not him. Thus are truth and love triumphant and all troubles, real and imaginary, relieved by laughter.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Argan
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 50–70
The imaginary invalid himself. Argan is wealthy, irritable, needy, lovable, infuriating, and absolutely convinced that he is seriously ill. He has organized his household—and much of his family—around his endless doctors, medicines, treatments, and complaints. A major comic role requiring strong timing, physical comedy, and the ability to make an outrageous character feel genuinely human. Argan is onstage for much of the play and carries a large amount of dialogue.
Toinette
Character: Female / Playing age: approximately 30–60
Argan's maid and the smartest person in the house. Quick-witted, fearless, practical, and endlessly resourceful, Toinette sees through Argan's doctors, his second wife, and most of the nonsense around her. She loves the family enough to interfere in everyone's business and ultimately becomes the engine that sets things right. A major comic role requiring excellent timing, physical confidence, and a strong sense of play.
Angelica
Character: Female / Playing age: approximately 18–30
Argan's daughter, genuinely and passionately in love with Cleante. Romantic and sincere, but far from helpless. When her father announces his plan to marry her to a doctor she has never met, Angelica discovers that love requires some backbone. Needs strong comic instincts as well as warmth and sincerity.
Music: Angelica sings briefly with Cleante during a comic scene. We are not looking for a trained or accomplished singer; a willingness to sing and have fun with the scene is what matters. Singing will be explored at callbacks.
Béralde
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 40–65
Argan's brother and one of the few people willing to tell him the truth. Intelligent, amused, affectionate, and deeply skeptical of Argan's doctors, Béralde enjoys puncturing pretension and ultimately joins Toinette in trying to save Argan from himself.
Béline
Character: Female / Playing age: approximately 35–55
Argan's glamorous second wife. Beautiful, polished, affectionate—and not nearly as devoted to her husband as she would like everyone to believe. Béline knows how to work a room and, more importantly, how to work Argan. A comic role balancing elegance and charm with plenty of calculation underneath.
Cleante
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 20–35
Angelica's charming and determined young suitor. Romantic, clever, and willing to take considerable risks to stay close to the woman he loves—including pretending to be her music teacher. Should have an easy comic presence and be comfortable with heightened romantic comedy.
Music: Cleante sings briefly with Angelica during a comic scene. No particular vocal training or singing experience is required. Comfort with singing and a willingness to play with the comedy of the scene are what matter. Singing will be explored at callbacks.
Thomas Diaforus
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 20–35
Angelica's intended husband, chosen by Argan largely because he is about to become a doctor. Thomas is painfully formal, thoroughly rehearsed, and completely unequipped for ordinary human interaction. He has been very well educated and has apparently learned almost nothing useful. A terrific featured comic role for an actor with strong physical and verbal timing.
Dr. Diaforus
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 45–70
Thomas's proud father and an established doctor. Completely confident in his profession, his son, and the wisdom of doing things exactly as they have always been done. Pompous, ceremonial, and utterly sincere about all of it. A strong character role with opportunities for broad physical and verbal comedy.
Louise
Character: Female / Older teen or adult actor playing a child
Argan's younger daughter and Angelica's little sister. Clever, mischievous, observant, and much better at manipulating her father than he realizes. Louise has one of the play's classic comic scenes with Argan, including an extravagantly theatrical attempt to avoid punishment. We are intentionally looking for an older teen or adult performer to play the child, embracing the theatricality and comedy rather than attempting complete realism.
Dr. Purgon
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 40–70
Argan's highly respected—and highly offended—physician. Dr. Purgon expects absolute faith in his medical authority and does not respond well when that authority is questioned. His outrage grows to magnificent proportions, making this a featured role with great opportunities for comic escalation.
Monsieur Bonnefoy
Character: Male / Playing age: flexible
A lawyer summoned by Béline to help arrange Argan's affairs. Professional, discreet, and perfectly willing to explain how one might accomplish something legally questionable while technically remaining within the law. A smaller but juicy character role.
Monsieur Fleurant
Character: Male / Playing age: flexible
Argan's apothecary, responsible for administering some of his favorite treatments. Serious, professional, and very accustomed to the intimate details of Argan's medical routine. A smaller featured role with considerable potential for physical comedy.
For questions regarding auditions or if you are unable to attend either night of auditions, please contact the Director, Maddie.
All roles are open. Seeking strong performers of all ethnicities and backgrounds.
We are open to flexible gender casting for a number of roles. Gender listed below refers to the character being portrayed, not necessarily the gender of the actor.
Music and Movement: This is a play with a little music, not a musical. Angelica and Cleante sing briefly as part of a comic scene, and the full cast participates in the final comic ceremonial sequence, which includes ensemble singing and simple choreographed movement. Actors do not need to be trained singers or dancers. There will be no singing at the initial auditions. Any singing will be explored at callbacks, and auditioners do not need to prepare a song.
PERFORMANCES:
January 29, 30, February 6, 12 & 13 at 7:30pm and February 7 & 14 at 2:00pm.
AUDITION INFO:
Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Sides are posted HERE.
Auditionees will sign up for a group audition session (via the link below) on either the first or second evening. Each session will include a variety of readings and opportunities to work with different scene partners. We will make every effort to use everyone's time efficiently, and some actors may be released before the end of the session once we have seen what we need.
To sign up, you must 1) complete the audition form; 2) upload resume and headshot; and 3) schedule your audition night's slot, all done HERE.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the 7:00pm start time to check in.
All conflicts must be indicated on the audition form as they will be taken into consideration during the casting process.
REHEARSALS:
Rehearsals will be Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.
PLOT SUMMARY:
The famous hypochondriac in this classic farce not only complains of a million imaginary ills, but also of his astronomical medical bills. If he marries his daughter to a doctor, he reasons, he will have free medical care. He chooses a double-talking Latin numbskull without consulting the daughter who is already smitten by another. The inventive maid exposes the doctor and his father as charlatans and demonstrates to the master that his second wife loves his money, not him. Thus are truth and love triumphant and all troubles, real and imaginary, relieved by laughter.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Argan
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 50–70
The imaginary invalid himself. Argan is wealthy, irritable, needy, lovable, infuriating, and absolutely convinced that he is seriously ill. He has organized his household—and much of his family—around his endless doctors, medicines, treatments, and complaints. A major comic role requiring strong timing, physical comedy, and the ability to make an outrageous character feel genuinely human. Argan is onstage for much of the play and carries a large amount of dialogue.
Toinette
Character: Female / Playing age: approximately 30–60
Argan's maid and the smartest person in the house. Quick-witted, fearless, practical, and endlessly resourceful, Toinette sees through Argan's doctors, his second wife, and most of the nonsense around her. She loves the family enough to interfere in everyone's business and ultimately becomes the engine that sets things right. A major comic role requiring excellent timing, physical confidence, and a strong sense of play.
Angelica
Character: Female / Playing age: approximately 18–30
Argan's daughter, genuinely and passionately in love with Cleante. Romantic and sincere, but far from helpless. When her father announces his plan to marry her to a doctor she has never met, Angelica discovers that love requires some backbone. Needs strong comic instincts as well as warmth and sincerity.
Music: Angelica sings briefly with Cleante during a comic scene. We are not looking for a trained or accomplished singer; a willingness to sing and have fun with the scene is what matters. Singing will be explored at callbacks.
Béralde
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 40–65
Argan's brother and one of the few people willing to tell him the truth. Intelligent, amused, affectionate, and deeply skeptical of Argan's doctors, Béralde enjoys puncturing pretension and ultimately joins Toinette in trying to save Argan from himself.
Béline
Character: Female / Playing age: approximately 35–55
Argan's glamorous second wife. Beautiful, polished, affectionate—and not nearly as devoted to her husband as she would like everyone to believe. Béline knows how to work a room and, more importantly, how to work Argan. A comic role balancing elegance and charm with plenty of calculation underneath.
Cleante
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 20–35
Angelica's charming and determined young suitor. Romantic, clever, and willing to take considerable risks to stay close to the woman he loves—including pretending to be her music teacher. Should have an easy comic presence and be comfortable with heightened romantic comedy.
Music: Cleante sings briefly with Angelica during a comic scene. No particular vocal training or singing experience is required. Comfort with singing and a willingness to play with the comedy of the scene are what matter. Singing will be explored at callbacks.
Thomas Diaforus
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 20–35
Angelica's intended husband, chosen by Argan largely because he is about to become a doctor. Thomas is painfully formal, thoroughly rehearsed, and completely unequipped for ordinary human interaction. He has been very well educated and has apparently learned almost nothing useful. A terrific featured comic role for an actor with strong physical and verbal timing.
Dr. Diaforus
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 45–70
Thomas's proud father and an established doctor. Completely confident in his profession, his son, and the wisdom of doing things exactly as they have always been done. Pompous, ceremonial, and utterly sincere about all of it. A strong character role with opportunities for broad physical and verbal comedy.
Louise
Character: Female / Older teen or adult actor playing a child
Argan's younger daughter and Angelica's little sister. Clever, mischievous, observant, and much better at manipulating her father than he realizes. Louise has one of the play's classic comic scenes with Argan, including an extravagantly theatrical attempt to avoid punishment. We are intentionally looking for an older teen or adult performer to play the child, embracing the theatricality and comedy rather than attempting complete realism.
Dr. Purgon
Character: Male / Playing age: approximately 40–70
Argan's highly respected—and highly offended—physician. Dr. Purgon expects absolute faith in his medical authority and does not respond well when that authority is questioned. His outrage grows to magnificent proportions, making this a featured role with great opportunities for comic escalation.
Monsieur Bonnefoy
Character: Male / Playing age: flexible
A lawyer summoned by Béline to help arrange Argan's affairs. Professional, discreet, and perfectly willing to explain how one might accomplish something legally questionable while technically remaining within the law. A smaller but juicy character role.
Monsieur Fleurant
Character: Male / Playing age: flexible
Argan's apothecary, responsible for administering some of his favorite treatments. Serious, professional, and very accustomed to the intimate details of Argan's medical routine. A smaller featured role with considerable potential for physical comedy.
For questions regarding auditions or if you are unable to attend either night of auditions, please contact the Director, Maddie.